Postgraduate Certificate in Coaching

We are pleased to announce that alongside our accredited postgraduate courses in Holistic and Integrative Psychotherapy (HIP), we are now able to offer an accredited postgraduate Certificate in Coaching, from April 2015, called Coaching Plus.

This course also has 10 modules and will cover the same topics as the HIP courses, but not at the same depth. This is because coaching is generally more solution-focused and task-oriented, therefore the same level of emotional enquiry is not expected.

As a result, coaching tends to be short to medium term work. This isn’t to say that coaching is a shallow form of psychological intervention, to the contrary, it’s a recognition that not all clients want or need to work at significant emotional depth, which for some makes coaching a better choice.

Those interested in undertaking this course are expected to already have a coaching qualification or equivalent*, or have relevant experience in related disciplines, as our course is deliberately not focusing on the evolution of coaching and the various models, strategies/interventions on which coaching is traditionally based – as there is the assumption that candidates will already be familiar with this.

Those who successfully complete our course will be awarded the postgraduate Certificate in Coaching, accredited by the National Council of Psychotherapists (NCP). They will be eligible to become members of NCP in addition to any coaching association they are already members of.

Those who successfully complete our course, can also become part of our associate programme. To find out more about the programme please click here.

* please contact us to clarify if your qualifications are appropriate.

Course structure

The course in it’s current format means all candidates will have one-to-one tuition. There will be some provision for small groups by arrangement.

Our training programme is, to a large degree, tailor-made for each student and so it is difficult to be precise about the number of hours required to successfully complete all 10 modules. However, based on our experience it will take approximately 60 face-to-face hours to complete all 10 modules, as each module will generally take 4 one and a half hour sessions.

The work the student would have to do in addition to the face-to-face tuition – reading, research and writing up of assignments – for all 10 modules will be a minimum of 60 hours. This will of course be subject to one’s previous knowledge, background and experience, as well as their familiarity with our material.

So the minimum number of hours required for successful completion of the postgraduate certificate in coaching is 120 hours.

Training syllabus

Module1: The Reach Approach in a Nutshell

1. Participants will be introduced to the rationale for an holistic and integrative approach. There will be an exploration of how the Reach model was conceived and the primary pillars that underpin the approach will also be discussed.

2. The Reach Approach is firmly anchored to the concept of synergy – ‘the whole is greater than the sum of its parts’. Course participants will be introduced to an understanding of synergy, which embraces much more than the fields of coaching, counselling and psychotherapy. The limitations of the ‘talking therapies’, as a sole intervention, will also be explored.

3. The Reach model respects the past and the present. Participants will be helped to understand how the best practices of the past and the present can be integrated into an holistic framework that will meet the needs of their clients. This will include an introduction to subjects such as: cognitive neuroscience, epigenetics, meditation, neurotheology and the role of nutrition in mental health.

Module 2: The Story of Health

1. Mind, body, spirit and environment are intimately and inextricably linked and during this module the ‘overlapping’ nature of their relationship will be examined at some length.

2. The pivotal roles that the body and environment have with regards to the demise, as well as the expansion, of human potential will also be examined.

3. When working with any aspect of mental health it is valuable to understand the difference between neurosis and psychosis. The relationship between mind and body will be examined at some depth to enable participants to better understand how it’s often the tug of war between these two aspects that compromises wellbeing.

Module 3: NOSE

1. Our experience has taught us that in the pursuit of sustainable solutions, ‘naming’ and ‘owning’ one’s ‘stuff’ is critical to positive change. In this module participants will come to understand how the subconscious continues to influence our decisions and choices when resolution has not been achieved.

2. The importance of personal responsibility in shaping our thoughts, drives and habits will be examined, as a central tool for personal transformation. ‘Change begins with me’ is an important mantra in the NOSE process.
3. ‘Letting go’ is one of the secrets to achieving contentment and wellbeing. A variety of strategies for achieving this ‘state of surrender’ with clients will be explored, as well as an explanation of how empowerment is a natural consequence of these endeavours.

Module 4: Persuading The Body

1. The mind cannot persuade matter to do its bidding until the needs of matter are actually met. This is why nutrition, hydration, deep restorative sleep, appropriate supplementation, exercise and other ‘physical activities’ are needed to forge a healthy alliance.

2. Perception, personality and performance are the three main things that are affected when the needs of the body are not met. Understanding the dynamics involved in this process offers some valuable insights and a powerful tool for change.

3. The disease process will also be examined in some depth. Also the importance and value of topics such as: cognitive neuroscience, PNI (psychoneuroimmunology), epigenetics and orthomolecular medicine and their relevance to human health.

Module 5: The Three Aspects of Consciousness

1. This module offers a greater understanding of the subject of awareness. There will be an introduction to the anatomy of consciousness.

2. The course participants will be helped to understand how self-awareness depends on appreciating and applying the relationship between the psychological positions of ‘Self’, ‘Other’ and ‘Lovingly Detached’.

3. The relationship between time and consciousness will be actively explored in this module e.g. The Memoried Self, The Anticipating Self and The Experiencing Self. ‘The Three Gatekeepers’ – truth, kindness and benevolence – also offer a valuable tool for expanding one’s awareness and this will be explored at some depth.

Module 6: All You Need to Know

1. Knowledge + Application = Personal Power. This equation lies at the heart of The Reach Approach. It demonstrates that knowledge is not sufficient for the client to reach his/her destination. It is our experience that the best therapists/coaches are those who are applying this principle in their own lives and so can mirror that in their work.

2. Understanding how to work with relapses when they occur is critical for facilitating positive change. And so looking at the ‘value’ of relapse is an essential part of this module.

3. ‘Serenity is not freedom from the storm, it’s peace within it’. The relentless pursuit of a better ‘destination’ is often the cause of so much anxiety and fear. In this module we’ll explore the idea that the ultimate attainment is to be able to find peace where there appears to be little or none and that the ‘real’ destination is ‘being the best I can be’.

Module 7: Synergy… a cure for all ills?

1. The Story of Health revisited:
In order to really understand the role and importance of synergy, we need also to understand the depth and detail of The Story of Health. One of the best ways to explore this topic further is to apply it to one’s own life and see where the strengths and weaknesses exist. Participants will be encouraged to undertake the task of self-examination.

2. Orthomolecular Medicine – the therapeutic role of nutrition:
There will be an introduction to the therapeutic value of food and supplementation. The intimate relationship between the ‘mouth and the mind’ will be examined. What we put into our mouths indisputably affects the function of our bodies and brains, which in turn shapes our thoughts and feelings. Therefore our perceptions, attitudes and behaviours cannot be completely adjusted without taking nutrition seriously.

3. Metaphysics:
Without understanding how the invisible/subtle forces support and shape the physical world, we cannot fully understand ourselves, nor our part in this story of life. Metaphysics is where both science and philosophy meet, defining the relationships between all living things. In this module course participants will be introduced to its relevance to their work with clients and personal development generally.

Module 8: Experiential Ways of Working

1. Becoming whole-brain thinkers:
Understanding the anatomy of the brain i.e. the roles and relationship between the left and right hemispheres, offers us the opportunity to move beyond the limitations of age, gender, the past, culture and toxic relationships. This module will illustrate how becoming a ‘whole-brain’ thinker is a choice each one of us can make, by applying the different levels of consciousness through the practice of awareness. Participants will be encouraged to undertake this practice.

2.Deep Relaxation:
The mind cannot operate optimally without peace and so an important part of this module is teaching the principles of relaxation. Deep relaxation enables the individual to build a relationship with silence, which both soothes and heals the body and calms and restores the mind. Learning how to apply the principles of relaxation gives one the ability to disconnect from those energies that block one’s path.

3. Emotional Freedom Work:
This is a powerful adaptation of Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT). In this module, we clearly demonstrate that rarely is one technique or strategy alone enough to restore health and wellbeing. Within our approach other relevant factors are taken into account. For example, without understanding the relevance of hydration and nutrition many of the emotional and psychological gains acquired through this process can be lost.

Module 9: The Reach Approach

1. Life Map Work:
Without knowing someone’s story how can we best deduce what their needs are? This is why our approach is ‘person-specific’ rather than person-centred. The person-centred values are essential to all therapeutic ways of working but it is our experience that they are not always enough and other resources beyond that are needed. Rarely does the presenting problem tell the whole story, which is why a life map can be invaluable in working out who we are ‘sitting with’ and how their needs can be best met.

2. Shame Work:
Shame is the emotion that most binds the human spirit. In this module we will explore shame’s role and how it leads to our entrapment and is often the key to our redemption. We will also illustrate how introspective practices are able to free us from the limitations of shame.

3. Lifestyle:
Our model focuses in part on ‘teaching’ the individual to ‘cook for themselves’ rather than merely providing them with a meal! Lifestyle is the stage in the process when all the work that has been done up to this point is pulled together and an action plan for the way forward is created, using The Story of Health as the template. Participants will be encouraged to create their own lifestyle template, so they can better translate it into their work with clients.

Module 10: The Role of the Self in the Change Process

1. In this module, participants will explore the relationship between personal responsibility and positive change and look at the many activities that can help the client to break the cycle of blame and victimhood.

2. A critical component of The Reach Approach is learning to ‘live with ambivalence’. It is our experience that until clients can live lovingly with their contradictions, they are unlikely to find the peace of mind that will liberate them from the out-dated patterns and beliefs that hold them hostage. Self-care is the key – there will be an in-depth look at this subject.

3. The lack of application of those pratices that lead to positive change is probably the single biggest reason that individuals do not fulfill their potential. In this module we will actively look at how to address the ‘discipline dilemma’, exploring those strategies and practices that can enable the individual to flourish. We will explore how as coaches you can create a unique set of ‘non-negotiables’ with each client.